Lighting fixture reflector surfacing device



Nov. 26, 1968 M. SPERO LIGHTING FIXTURE REFLECTOR SURFACING DEVICE FiledSept. 29, 1966 INVENTOR MANNY SIDE/P0 ATTORNEYS United States Patent3,413,462 LIGHTING FIXTURE REFLECTOR SURFACING DEVICE Manny Spero,Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor to Spero Electric Corporation, acorporation of Ohio Filed Sept. 29, 1966, Ser. No. 582,988 3 Claims.(Cl. 240-103) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A disposable light reflectingunit used with a lighting fixture having a reflector and bulb. The unitis removably mounted by spring clips within the reflector in lightreflecting relation to the bulb, and provides a new light reflectivesurface for the fixture. This eliminates dismantling the lightingfixture to remove and replace the reflector.

The maintenance of lighting fixtures, particularly factory lightingfixtures, is not only a necessary operation but an expensive one.Accumulation of dirt or film on the light reflecting surface absorbslight and progressively diminishes the efliciency of the lamp to a pointbelow minimum requirements for the installation. Thus, regular cleaningof the reflector to restore the lamp characteristics is required. Thecost of such maintenance on the larger lighting fixtures, e.g., mercuryvapor fixtures, often exceeds several dollars per unit per year.

It has now been found that lighting fixture maintenance may be greatlysimplified and made less expensive by providing means for renewing thereflecting surface of a lamp reflector in the form of a similarlyconfigured insertable member adapted to be quickly secured to theexisting structure. Thus, by a simple operation with an inexpensiveinsertable member the lamp may be restored to virtually its originalefliciency. In the preferred embodiments hereof, this unit is itselfreplaceable with a similar unit when it again becomes necessary to renewthe reflecting surface.

Briefly stated, the invention is in a device for resurfacing a dulled ordirty light reflecting surface of a reflector used in a lighting fixturealso having a light bulb and socket. Accordingly, there is provided aninsertable light reflecting surface for removably mounting orpositioning between the reflector and bulb of the lighting fixture suchthat light given ofl by the bulb strikes and is reflected from therenewed light reflecting surface rather than the dulled light reflectingsurface of the original reflector. The original reflector remains inplace and coacts to support the surface renewing insert.

The following description of the invention will be better understood byhaving reference to the annexed drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of how indoor lighting fixtures may be workedon;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lighting fixture including areflector, lamp and socket;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a typical reflector illustrating how theindependently formed light reflecting shield of this invention isemployed;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating one means forattaching the shield to the reflector; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the light shield.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a fixture mountedin a factory bay 12.

The lighting fixture 16 is usually worked on by hand, that is, anindividual indicated at 18, is raised and held in position adjacent thelighting fixture 16 in order to work on the fixture. This is usuallyaccomplished by a ladder or it may be a specially designed truck 20 witha telescoping hydraulically operated boom 22. A partially enclosedsupport or platform 24 is mounted on the free end of the boom and isused to support the individual 18 working on the lighting fixture 16.

The lighting fixture may be of the type disclosed in Patents Nos.1,981,903, 2,673,287, and 3,047,829. However, the invention will bedescribed in relation to the lighting fixture 16 illustrated in FIG. 2,which is disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 366,700, filed May12, 1964.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 2-5, the lighting fixture 16essentially comprises a light bulb 26 partially enclosed in a reflector28.

The reflector 28 is preferably composed of aluminum and formed by anysuitable process, e.g., a process where the reflector 28 is built up ofaluminum metal sheet formed on mandril or form.

The invention As previously indicated, the reflector 28 has a highlypolished light reflecting surface 30 which becomes dulled, dirty ortarnished when exposed to the environment of its use. Instead ofexpensive cleaning of the dulled reflecting surface 30 of the reflector28, or actually replacing the reflector 28, there is provided ainsertable surface renewing reflective insert member 32 for resurfacingthe dulled surface 30 of the reflector 28. The member 32 can be made ofany suitable material, e.g., plastic or metal similar to the reflector28, and has a highly reflective surface 34. The member 32 is positionedbetween the reflector 28 and light bulb 26 such that the reflectivesurface 34 of the member is adjacent the bulb 26. Thus, light radiatingfrom the bulb 26 will strike and be reflected from the reflectivesurface 34 rather than from the dulled or damaged reflective surface 30of the original reflector 28.

The insertable member 32 is preferably shaped to conform to theconfiguration of the existing reflector 28 in order to more nearlyrestore the rated candle power or illumination for which the lightingfixture was initially designed. In some cases, however, it may bedesirable to change the shape of the member 32 to change theillumination to suit different uses of the lighted area. For example, afrusto-conical insert member 36, shown in dotted lines, can be used inplace of the parabolically formed member 32.

The insert member 32 is removably mounted or positioned within thereflector 28 by any suitable means, e.g., a plurality of clips 38-44equally spaced and secured along the exposed peripheral marginal edge 46of the insert member 32. The wire clips 38 are preferably formed ofspring steel and are secured to the member 32 by any suitable means,e.g., rivets 48 (FIG. 4-). The clips 38- 40 are configured tofrictionally engage a rolled rim 50 of the reflector 28.

The free end 52 of each clip is reversely bent such that it diverges ina direction away from the rolled rim 50 and the reflector 28. Thisprovides a suitable guide or means for distorting the clips when themember 32 is snapped or locked into position within the reflector 28.The diverging clip ends 52 can also be used as auger supports useful inunsnapping the clips for easy removal of the member 32.

The upper portion 54 of the insert member 32 is removed forming anopening 56 having a diameter D which is preferably, slightly larger thanthe corresponding diameter D of the lamp or bulb 26. This .is done topermit removing or positioning the member 32 without having to removethe bulb 26.

It should be apparent from the above description and drawing that thedisposable insert member 32 is rigid. It should also be appreciated theease with which the insert member 32 can be replaced. The members 32 aremade relatively thin in'order to reduce their weight. Also, the

cost of the inserts is substantially reduced to where it is cheaper touse such inserts than it is to clean or replace the reflectors 28. Thus,the high cost of maintenance is greatly reduced at considerable savingsWhile maintaining safe illumination.

It has been found that the reflectors are subject to more wear thanother parts of the lighting fixture. The use of spring clips permitseasy removal of the surface renewal inserts from the reflectors. Becauseof this the insert members can be removed with a specially designeddevice or stick which can be manipulated by an individual, say at groundlevel. Such a method for removing and replacing the inserts 32 does notrequire the elaborate and expensive equipment as previously described.Thus, even greater savings can be utilized by using the reflectiveinserts of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for replacing the dulled deflective surface of a reflectorof a lighting fixture including a light bulb, comprising in combination:

(a) a rigid replaceable insert removably positioned Within the reflectorindependent of the reflector and bulb, said insert having a lightreflective surface in light reflecting relation to the bulb, said inserthaving an opening adjacent the bulb dimensioned larger than the bulbsuch that the bulb passes through the opening when the insert ispositioned or removed,

said insert having another opening which is adjacent the rim of thereflector and smaller than the opening defined by the rim; and

(b) a plurality of spring clips secured to the insert in spaced relationaround the periphery of the opening of the insert adjacent the rim ofthe reflector, said clips extending from the insert and interlocking-1yengaging the rim of the reflector, and said clips having free ends whichare resiliently displaceable from the insert and rim whereby the clipsare disengaged from the rim.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each clip is configured to matinglyengage at least a portion of a rim which is rolled.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the insert is configured to conform tothe shape of the reflector and nest therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,170,903 2/1916 Hauschildt240-103 2,907,873 10/1959 Smith 240103 3,319,062 5/1967 Falk 240103NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

W. A. SIVERTSON, Assistant Examiner.

